The rise in AI-generated pictures amplifies body-image concerns

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Photo generated by AI platform Dall-E2 in response to the prompt “perfect masculine or feminine body”. PHOTO | DALL-E2

Growing up, Joy Omondi, 24, had always been referred by peers as the “fat girl with acne”. The teasing affected her self-esteem, but this was trivial compared to what the world of technology had in store for her adult self.

Joy, a financial analyst, is a textbook case of how interacting with generative AI tools can be detrimental to mental health, especially that of youths who are still discovering themselves mentally and emotionally.